Telia pivots from global playbook to national sovereignty

Telia Company is reworking its strategy around national sovereignty, moving away from the global focus it held for years. CEO Patrik Hofbauer told Mobile World Live the operator is in the middle of a multiyear shift driven by the geopolitical climate, especially the war in Ukraine and its impact on the Nordic region. He called the change a “180-degree pivot” in how Telia runs its business.

Hofbauer said resilience, security and national sovereignty now dominate Telia’s home markets, noting its role as a key supplier to Sweden’s defence and armed forces. Only a few years ago, he added, sovereignty barely registered in boardroom discussions. Now, he said, customers expect Telia to protect critical services and keep networks running under stress. In the same interview, he also outlined Telia’s AI plans and his view of the broader European telecoms landscape.